Thread: How long do brake rotors last?

Rotors last about 2 set of disc brake pads. 80k seems about normal, it is for me.

If your pads are near used up, in theory the brake pad warning light should be illuminated. There is one brake pad sensor on the left front and one on the right rear wheel so at least those pads are monitored.

I install new rotors with each new set of pads; others turn their rotors and reinstall along with new pads. As such, after a couple of turnings, the rotors could be less than optimum.

I regard big city driving as harder on brakes than long lonely highway driving; as such, you may want to regard your brake use as being severe service.

I also drain and pour in new brake fluid about every five years. Brake fluid can absorb water vapor and that can lead to soft funny feeling brakes when attempting to stop. It appears the water vapor in the brake fluid can "boil" from caliper heat and effectively introduce "air" into the system. This feels as softness.

Still on the original rotors on my D4 and travelled over 100K.
I tow quite a bit as well.

Cheers, Craig

I can't comment specifically on the D#/D4/RRS, but brake wear is more dependent on the driver than almost anything else.

I am reminded of the first London - Sydney marathon - the Citroen team, on landing in Fremantle, made the third pad replacement on one of their team - another team member, running at that stage in almost the same position in an identical car, made their first pad replacement, "even though not necessary". (At the time I drove a Citroen DS, so took a close interest - one almost won the event before a major accident in Wollongong put it out of action, another came about third, and the third team member finished about twelfth after hitting a roo on the Nullarbor.)

So my conclusion is that there is no single answer to "How long do brake rotors last?", although certainly, other peoples experience may be some indication - just don't expect your results to be necessarily even close.

John

Yeah mine always seem to last until I go to get a RWC for sale, when I'm told they're about 2 thou under and need replacing

Originally Posted by bbyer

I also drain and pour in new brake fluid about every five years.

Should be doing that every two to three years.

Originally Posted by BigJon

Should be doing that every two to three years.

Yes, I suppose you are correct re new brake fluid more often. My excuse is I live in a virtual desert here on the prairies - even the air compressor dryer desiccant survives here. I would think in a coastal climate or rain forest type area that every couple of years would be a good idea.

In the winter, it is even dryer as the below zero F temperatures pretty much suck the moisture out of everything. Salt will not even melt the snow and ice on the roads; hence gravel chips are spread about. They are not too effective as far as traction is concerned but they do destroy the windscreen quite effectively as they skip along the bonnet taking a bit of paint with each bounce.

The brake rotors on my D3 needed to be replaced at the same time as the first set of brake pads did (75,000 Km). At the time we did tow a camper trailer that had override brakes. Now we tow a van with its own electric brakes, so I'm hoping to get a bit longer life out of both pads and rotors.

Cheers

Russ